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Home fire safety

woman in her home

Cut down the risk of a fire in your home with our fire safety checklist.

Do you smoke?

  • If so, use deep ashtrays and stub each cigarette out properly.
  • Never smoke in bed.

Do you have a smoke alarm?

  • You need a smoke alarm on each floor of your home. It is vital it has the British Standard number BS5446 and the Kitemark
  • Test it regularly and keep it free from dust
  • Change the battery at least once a year
  • There are smoke alarms for people with hearing difficulties which set off vibrating pads that go under your pillow and strobe lights if the alarm detects smoke. For more information visit the opens link in new window RNID website.

Have you planned an escape route?

  • Preparing and planning an escape route can save valuable time in a fire
  • Contact your local fire brigade to see if it offers a 'home fire risk check'; this can give you further advice on fire safety in your home

Do you have an open fire?

  • If you have an open fire, do you use a fire guard? They’re essential to let you safely enjoy the benefits of a fire.
  • Never dry clothes over or near a fire, even drying clothes near a fire or other heater is a fire risk

opens link in new window Download the Home safety checker factsheet (PDF 602 KB)

We are grateful for the generous support of Dr Naim Dangoor CBE
and The Exilarch's Foundation

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Useful information to download

  • Our leaflet, Home safety checker, will help you identify and resolve any possible safety risks, helping you prevent accidents in the future.

  • View all downloadsHelp with downloads

    Downloads

    What is a download?

    A download is a document (like a research report, a leaflet, or an application form) that can be transferred from our website to your computer. You can download a file, view it on your screen, print it, or save it to your computer.

    What is a PDF?

    PDF stands for ‘portable document format’.

    Most downloads on this website are PDFs. We use this format to ensure that the document looks the same on everyone’s computer (website pages, by contrast, appear differently depending on how people have set their computer up).

    How do I download a PDF?

    Computers use a program called Adobe Acrobat Reader to download PDFs. If you try clicking on a link to download a PDF and it doesn’t work, you will need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader onto your computer.

    How do I install Adobe Acrobat Reader?

    The process is quite straightforward and is free.

    1. Go to opens link in new window http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/
    2. Click ‘Download’.
    3. Wait for the window to offer you the option to ‘Run’, then choose this option.
    4. Click ‘Next’.
    5. Click ‘Install’
    6. Wait for the window to offer you the option to ‘Finish’, then choose this option.

    How do I change a download?

    PDFs cannot be changed. If you need to be able to type into a downloaded document (for example, if we are offering a letter template that you need to put your name on) we will provide it as a Microsoft Word document rather than a PDF. You can then download it, type into it and save it to your computer.

    How do I print or save a download?

    Downloads will open on your computer in a new browser window.

    Inside this window (below all your web browser menus), there will be a toolbar with options for you to print or save the document.

    Close the browser window to return to the Age UK website.

    Can my screen reader read PDF downloads?

    We have made every effort to make our PDFs accessible to screen readers. Here is an overview of your accessibility options available in Acrobat Reader. Please ensure that you have downloaded the latest version of Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Reader website to ensure that they are included in your version of the programme.

    You can use Adobe Reader to read a PDF out loud with the following shortcut keys:

    • Read the document: Shift +Ctrl+Y
    • Read the open page only: Shift +Ctrl+V
    • Read to the end of the document: Shift+Ctrl+B
    • Pause: Shift+Ctrl+C
    • Stop Shift+Ctrl+E

    You can also convert a PDF into a web page by following these steps:

    • Copy the URL (web address) of the document (right-click on the link and select ‘Save target as’ or ‘Copy link’).
    • Open the Adobe online conversion tool in your browser and paste the URL into the URL box.
    • Tick the HTML box on the Format option and click ‘Convert’.

    You can convert a PDF document into a text file for use with other software and hardware such as Braille printers by opening the PDF and choosing ‘Save as text’ from the File menu.

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